Submergible carpet



Oct. 13,1936. 'F A R 2,057,358

SUBMERGIBLE CARPET Filed April 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet] FRANK-u BAM'ER Oct. 13, 1936: A E v 2,057,358

SUBMERG I BLE CARPET Y Filed April 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FkA/VKZ/BAKER W My,

ATTORN EYS Patented Oct. 13, 1936 UNITED .STATES SUBMERGIBLE CARPET Frank U. Baker, Tipton, Mich., assignor of onehalf to Edwin Bagnall, Adrian, Mich.

Application April 15, 1935, Serial No. 16,523

13 Claims.

This invention relates to walled carpets and is more particularly directed to a submergible carpet for use on the floor or bottom of a body of water, for example, a lake, river or the like.

' An object of the invention is the provision of a carpet of this character to cover a section of the bottom of a body of water, where such bottom is disagreeable for swimming or bathing due'to the presence of mud, muck, stones or the like.

A further object residesin the provision of a submergible carpet having side and end portions to prevent the ingress of mud and the like and at the same time permit a continuous flow of fresh water into the enclosure.

A still further object is to provide a structure capable of being transported and set up for use wherever desired, and which is readily assembled from a plurality of sections which are provided with means to securethe same in position when in use.

Another object resides in novel means for supporting the sides of the structure to form an enclosure which is arranged to provide a substantially continuous flow of fresh clean water, and eliminate the ingress of undesirable matter.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous otherfeatures as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawings of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which: I

Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a form of the invention; 4 Y i i Figure 2 is a top plan view of one of the sections showing the arrangement of fastening elements; i i a Figure 3 is an'enlarged fragmentary detail view showing the anchor means and an arrangement of fastening elements upon the side supporting members; 45 Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing a method of joining sections of the sidesupporting members; i a

Figure 5 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is aperspective view of another form of the invention; a

Figure? is a'perspective view of a still further form of the invention;

Figure 8 is an enlargedfragmentary detail view showing another method of joining sections of the side supporting members.

The invention has been illustrated for use as a carpet and enclosure adapted to be set up in natural bodies of water where the bottom is to be covered to make the same more pleasant and enjoyable for swimming or bathing, the arrangement providing an effective enclosure to keep children in shallow water and serving for use as a private enclosure, but it is to be understood that I contemplate its use wherever the same may be found to have utility.

Referring vto the drawings and particularly Figures 1 to 5 thereof, a form of the invention has been illustrated, which may be preferred, in which a pluralityjof sections ll) ofcanvas or other suitable material are separably fastened together to form the base or carpet portion l2. Sections I4 of similar material and of suitable configuration are angularly disposed with respect to the base l2 to form the side or wall portions IS. The wall portions l6 aresupported by means of suitable floats [8 of wood or other buoyant material and serve to hold the upper edges of the walls I-B adjacent the surface of the water. Sections are secured together to form the end portion 22 and are preferably slightly lower than the adjoining sides l6, the floats I8 being ar ranged to lie just beneath the surface of the Water ;so as to permit the flow of fresh water thereover. Thus, inthe form shown, the enclosure is provided with a base and three side portions, the open side preferably facing the shore of the body of water when in use.

Sections I0, and 20 are provided with hookless fasteners so that the sections may be sewed together byv means of a metallic seam to form a. substantially unitary structure easily assembled or knockeddown for transportation or other'purposes. I find it necessary to provide but two fasteners or sliders 23 having operating buttons 24 to each section of canvas as the next adjoining section is provided with a series of cooperating interlocking fastening elements 25. The form of fastening means employed may be of the so-called zipper type and I prefer to sew or otherwise secure to the edges ofthe canvas sections a strip or tape having a row or series of interlocking elements secured thereto. Along two edges of the canvas are secured tapes, of interlocking elements 25 having sliders 23 associated therewith so that when the button is drawn along the cooperating'edges of two sections In, a locked joint or metallic seam Z'lisprovided which holds the secvided with tapes having a series of interlocking fasteners secured thereto as before described in connection with the canvas sections. If desired, the sections l4 and 20 may be fastened directly to the float sections l9, which desirably correspond in number to the number of sections of the wall and end portions.

Float I8 is removably coupled or secured to;,

floats 18 so that their ends lie beneath the latter to permit water to flow thereover and enter the enclosure. Blocks 34 secured to floats l8, or other means may be utilized to position the floats l8 and I8 with respect to each other in desired relation, the blocks being provided with means such as bolts 35 to removably secure the blocks to the floats and thus the floats together.

Serving as means to anchor the structure, I

provide a plurality of flat weights 38 at the intersection of the canvas sections l0. Weights 38 hold the base portion i 2 upon the floor of the body of water and also maintain the same in desired position with respect to the shore or edge of the body of water. The weights 38 may be secured to the fastener buttons 24 and thus hold the same in locked position with respect to the sections it], and maintain the metallic seam.

The canvas material is preferably waterproofed and in order to protect the same from damage by stones and the like, a coating of rubber or similar material may be applied to the lowermost surface. The edge of the base which is positioned along the shore is desirably of heavier material or of several plies of the same material to compensate for the additional wear, and thus enhance the life of the structure. If desired this edge portion may be secured to a pole or strip 39 of Wood or other suitable material to insure the proper positioning of the carpet portion, and further prevent the ingress of sand and mud when the structure is surrounded by water.

In Figure 6 another form of the invention has been illustrated wherein a plurality of sections 40 are secured together and preferably extend from a float 42 to a float 44. When sections 40 are of canvas or similar material, anchors or weights 46 may be secured as at 48 to the sections to form the base '50. Floats 42 and 44 support the ends of the sections 40, side walls thus being provided between the Weights 46 and the floats. A float 52 may be provided along the upper edge of an end portion 54, the float being carried or positioned with respect to the floats 42 and 44 in a suitable manner. Additional weights 56 may be provided at intervals along the seams of the sections 40 to further anchor the structure as hereinbefore described.

' To prevent ingress of foreign matter, a comparatively short end wall 51 may be secured along the edge of the base 50 adjacent the shore, the arrangement being particularly desirable when the structure is completely surrounded by water. Should such edge of the base portion be positioned on the shore, the wall 57 may be eliminated. A partition 58, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6, may be utilized to divide the structure into sections which is desirable when children are to be prevented from entering deep water. The partition 58 may be secured to the base 50 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the end walls, and can be located at any of the intersections of the sections 40.

When it is desired to use the structure in comparatively deep water, all four ends or walls may be utilized, and a submerged pool formed, in which instance, anchor means or weights 56 as well as weights 46 may be suspended from the base 50 and side walls to position the device in spaced relation with respect to the floor or bottom of the body of water.

In some instances it may be desirable to use rigid material for the sections 40. By using sheet metal or other sheet material, the anchor weights 46 may be eliminated as the walls and ends can then be preformed and will remain in such form. The rigid structure is preferably made in sections and may be bolted or otherwise secured so that the same can be moved or stored with ease.

The form illustrated in Figure '7 may be fabricated of wood or other rigid material and preferably includes a base portion 60, side walls 62, and end wall 64. The Walls 62 and 64 have been illustrated as being formed of rigid material, but may be of flexible material such as canvas, if desired. The structure is preferably treated against the action of the water to enhance the life of the base and wall portions and the interior surface 65 of base is provided with a suitable fabric or similar material to prevent accidental slipping upon an otherwise smooth surface, or the base 60 may be suitably roughened for this purpose. The end wall 64 is preferably lower than the side walls to permit the entrance of fresh water, although when the structure is submerged in comparatively deep water the wall 64 may be of the same height.

As illustrated in Figure 8, another form of float securing or coupling means has been shown. A substantially U-shaped member 10 of metal or similar material is positioned in holes or openings in the end portions of the float sections IS. The extremities 14 of leg portions 12 of the member 10 may be provided with openings 16 to receive cotter keys 18 or other suitable locking elements. By this arrangement a flexible joint is provided permitting movement between the float sections i9, which may be desired in some instances.

Thus, I have provided a structure which may be of flexible, rigid, semi-rigid material, or which may include a combination of such materials. In each instance the structure is'portable so that the same may be used wherever desired, and provides an arrangement which may cover an otherwise disagreeable bathing area.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and difierent arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A submergible carpet having side and end walls, including a plurality of sections removably secured together; anchor means for each of said sections to hold portions of said carpet in contact with the floor of a body of water; and means to support said side and end walls.

angularly with respect to said carpet,

3. A submergible carpet having side and end walls, including a plurality of sections secured together, an anchor weight at the junction of each of said sections; and a plurality of float elements to support said side and end walls angularly with respect to said carpet.

4. A submergible enclosure having a carpet portion and end walls secured thereto, said enclosure including a plurality of flexible sections provided with hookless fastening elements to secure adjoining sections together; a plurality of weight members secured to said carpet portion; and a plurality of float members removably secured together and adapted to support the side and end walls of said enclosure.

5. A submergible carpet having side and end walls secured thereto, including a plurality of flexible sections provided with hookless fastening elements to secure adjoining sections together; a plurality of weight members secured to said fastening elements; and a plurality of float members adapted to support the side and end walls of said carpet.

6. In combination, a plurality of sections of flexible material each having means associated therewith to secure adjacent sections together; a plurality of weights for anchoring said sections and a plurality of buoyant elements for supporting certain of said sections to form a walled enclosure.

'7. A submergible enclosure having a carpet portion embraced by side and end walls, said enclosure including a plurality of canvas sections provided with hookless fastening elements to secure adjoining sections together; a plurality of weight members to anchor said enclosure and hold said fastening elementsv in effective position; and a plurality of float members adapted to support the side and end walls of said carpet.

8. In combination, a plurality of sections of canvas each having means associated therewith to secure adjacent sections together to form a carpet; a plurality of weights at the intersection of said sections for anchoring said carpet ;-and a plurality of buoyant elements coupled together to support certain of said sections to form walls for said carpet.

9. In combination, a plurality of sections of fabric material each having means associated therewith to secure adjacent sections together to form an enclosure; a plurality of weights for anchoring said sections; and a plurality of buoyant elements for supporting certain of said sections, said weights and elements cooperating to form a carpet portion and the walls of the enclosure.

10. A submergible carpet including a plurality of sections separably secured together, and a plurality of elements to anchor said carpet in contact with a surface retaining a body of water.

11. A submergible carpet including a plurality of sections separably secured together, certain of said sections defining end and side walls of said carpet, and means to anchor said carpet so that said carpet rests on the floor of a body of water.

12. A submergible enclosure having a rigid carpet portion embraced by side and end walls of unequal height, said carpet portion and walls comprising a plurality of sections separably secured together, and means to submerge said enclosure so that said carpet portion rests on the bottom of a body of water.

13. A submergible enclosure having a composite carpet portion and side and end walls, means to support said walls, and means to anchor said enclosure in a body of water so that said carpet portion is in contact with the floor of the body of water.

FRANK U. BAKER. 

